Coursework portfolio. Work produced during workshops and on their work placement, demonstrating an ability to source and write news and features across a range of topics. Elements of the portfolio will also include an NCTJ approved form completed by news editor/editor and a diary report reflecting on the student's experience (75% weighting, learning outcomes 1-8)
Portfolio of stories - approx 2,000-3,000 words (weighting 40%)
Placement diary report - approx 1,000-1,500 words (weighting 20%)
Employer's report (weighting 15%)

Timed exercise. Complete a timed online writing assessment of approx 1,000-1,500 words which mirrors industry standard and prepares students for National Council for the Training of Journalists qualifications in Online Journalism (25% weighting, learning outcomes 1,4,5,7)

This module aims to enhance and develop students writing abilities while integrating core skills into more specialist areas of journalism.
Students will examine and analyse the theory and practice of specific journalistic skills such as photography, subbing, news editing, and how these skills combine in a convergent newsroom.
The module will offer some practical guidance and training in areas such as packaging for the web, photography and photoshop, and subbing, utilising software such as QuarkXpress and other facilities available in the newsroom.
The module will also develop student's knowledge of areas such as court reporting, with specific court visits built into the timetable so students can demonstrate and practice the art of reporting the courts and prepare themselves for NCTJ media law part 1 qualification.
Students will develop writing and interviewing skills into other areas such as features, profiles, crime, health and politics.
Each week, students will be producing and loading material onto the StaffsLive website.

One 4-hour session a week, for 10 weeks, with a 3 to 4 week work placement in the middle of the module.
Each session will include a short tutor-led presentation to be followed by group discussion and practical, interactive workshops.
Exercises will be practice-based in which students will gather and write authentic specialist news stories and feature articles from the day's regional and national news agenda, before producing and packaging their work for publication online.
These sessions will be student-led, with analysis and feedback given both on a group and individual basis, encouraging students to reflect on their work.
Students will also engage in specialist areas such as court reporting by visiting local courts and inquests and reporting back on these hearings.
Students will enhance their knowledge and skills in order to put them into practice in a work environment during the work placement period, to run from the beginning of March to mid April.
It is the student's responsibility to contact employers and arrange their own work placement during the specified period.

Media Centre/Newsroom + printers
StaffsLive/internet
PA Mediapoint
Library
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Frost, Chris (2002) Reporting for Journalists, London, Routledge.
Hadwin, Sara and Bloy, Duncan (2007) Law and the Media, London, Sweet and Maxwell.
Harcup, Tony (2003) Journalism: Principles and Practice, London, Sage.
Hennessy, Brendan (2006) Writing feature Articles, fourth edition, Oxford, Focal Press.
Hicks, Wynford (1999) Writing for Journalists, London, Routledge.
Hicks, Wynford (1998) English for Journalists, London, Routledge.
Hudson, Gary and Rowlands, Sarah (2007) The Broadcast Journalism Handbook, London, Pearson.
Journalism Dept (2007) Journalism Style Guide, Staffordshire University.
Keeble, Richard, (2001) The Newspapers Handbook, London, Routledge.
Pape, Susan and Featherstone, Sue (2005) Newspaper Journalism: A Practical introduction, London, Sage.
Quinn, Stephen (2001) Digital Sub Editing and Design, Oxford, Focal Press.
Quinn, Stephen and Filak, Vincent (2005) Convergent Journalism: An Introduction, Oxford, Focal Press.
Reding, Elizabeth (2004) QuarkExpress 6: Design Professional, London, Cambridge.
Ward, Mike (2002) Journalism Online, Oxford, Focal Press.
Welsh, Tom and Greenwood, Walter (2005) McNae's Essential Law for Journalists, OUP.